Attention deficit disorder, or ADD, is a psychological disorder classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. According to the National Institutes of Health, ADD is the most common diagnosed behavioral disorder in children. In addition, ADD affects 3 to 5 percent of school age children, and more boys are diagnosed with the disorder than girls. While medication is often prescribed to treat ADD, therapy can be as effective for treatment.
American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines
The American Academy of Pediatrics has specific guidelines for treating ADD. Before any therapy begins, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends setting goals to guide the course of therapy. While medication is an option, the American Academy of Pediatrics also lists behavioral therapy as an effective treatment option. If treatment is not working, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests reevaluating the diagnosis and symptoms. In addition, following up with the parents, teachers and patient is necessary to find out the effectiveness of the treatment.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is an alternative to ADD medication. Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on behavior modification programs to be applied at school, work and home. Therapy sets concrete goals for behavior and achievement; thus, children receive rewards for good behavior, and understand the consequences for bad behavior.
Educational Help
Additional therapy that focuses on education not only helps control negative behaviors, but it can also help the child to concentrate and improve performance in school. The child may receive one-on-one instruction with her teacher, which can help eliminate some of the distractions. In addition, a therapist will help the child learn methods to succeed in school, such as study techniques. If necessary, setting up special education accommodations may be necessary to help the child in school.
